With the special election over and California’s financial crisis full blown, the state faces huge challenges. Senator Maldonado will discuss leadership, risk, courage and controversy in tough times and explore what it means for individuals and communities to make complex decision in a high-stakes environment. He has served in the state Senate since 2004 and this year cast the deciding vote in the longest budget stalemate in California history. Joining Senator Maldonado will be Teresa Alvarado, executive director of the Hispanic Foundation of Silicon Valley; Rick Callender, assistant officer in the Office of Government and Public Relations Santa Clara Valley Water District; Jim Cunneen, partner at California Strategies; and Stephen Wright, former editorial page editor of the San Jose Mercury News.